Kenton 911 Calls to be Routed to Obion County
KENTON, Tenn. – Some Kenton residents are upset about a recent change in how emergency calls are handled. “It should stay in Gibson County,” said resident Tiffany Cloar. “Right there, it’s faster, and it’s more convenient for people that do need the 911 as soon as they can. That’s why you call 911.” Kenton Mayor Virginia Davidson said they just switched 911 services from Gibson County to Obion County. The town is in both counties. But to save money, Mayor Davidson said Obion County will now handle all Kenton’s calls. “That’ll be a good thing, because we’ve got to save all we can,” resident Maggie Jowers said. The changes could slow emergency response time, making some residents concerned. Mayor Davidson said residents should not panic. “I don’t think it’s going to be that much,” Davidson said. “People tend to jump to conclusions, you know, because we have been doing that for Obion County. Obion has been dispatching the 911 to Gibson County, so all we’re asking now is Gibson County to dispatch to Obion County, so there shouldn’t be that much delay. Still, residents said a few seconds in an emergency can make a difference. “A very big difference,” Cloar said. “Time is of the essence in a lot of cases.” Mayor Davidson said the change will save the town about $9,000 a year. And although she said she does not foresee any issues, she will consider switching back if the new system does not work out.
